Kalamazoo and much of Southwest Michigan under Winter Storm Watch starting Sunday evening

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The Kalamazoo area and much of Southwest Michigan are under a Winter Storm Watch for Sunday evening through Monday afternoon, as lake-effect snow showers are expected to dump up to about a half-foot of snow on parts of the region.

The National Weather Service in Grand Rapids at 3:15 a.m. Saturday issued the watch for Kalamazoo, Allegan, Van Buren and several other counties along and near the shores of Lake Michigan.

A South Haven resident digs out from a lake-effect snowstorm in this 2010 photo. South Haven is among areas under a Winter Storm Watch that begins Sunday evening.MLive file

Locally heavy lake-effect snow showers are possible beginning Sunday evening and continuing through Monday, with accumulations of more than 6 inches possible, according to the weather service.

Forecasters warn that visibilities will be less than a mile at times and travel conditions will be hazardous.

The forecast from the National Weather Service for the next few days:

Today: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 42. Southwest wind 15 to 18 mph.

Tonight: Snow showers likely before 1am, then snow showers with areas of blowing snow after 1am. Low around 18. Breezy, with a west northwest wind 21 to 29 mph, with gusts as high as 39 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Sunday: Scattered snow showers before 1pm, then snow showers after 1pm. Temperature falling to around 19 by 7am. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 15 to 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Sunday Night: Snow showers. Low around 13. West northwest wind 11 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New snow accumulation of around 4 inches.

Monday: Snow showers. High near 16. Blustery, with a west northwest wind 14 to 21 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Monday Night: Snow showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 7. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of around an inch possible.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of snow showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 13.